We use huge amounts of plastic in our daily lives and industrial activities. Some of them are leaking into environment and, consequently into the ocean. The amount of plastic flowing into the ocean continues to grow along with the world's GDP, increasing plastic pollution.

Plastics is fed by zooplankton, fish and even seabirds. And plastics carries chemical substances contained in itself and harmful chemical substances adsorbed from the environment into the body of organisms. In addition, it has become known that it degrades when exposed to sunlight and releases methane gas, which has a stronger greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide.

Various problems related to plastics have been reported by many researchers around the world, and plastic pollution is already affecting biodiversity conservation and economic activities. However, despite the urgent need to take measures on a global scale, the current situation is that the actual situation that can serve as the basis for concrete policies is not sufficiently understood. For example, where does the large amount of plastic waste floating in the ocean go?

In order to address these issues, the University of Tokyo for Future Society Initiative Fund (FSI Fund) received support from the Nippon Foundation, and in 2019 established the office of marine plastic research at the Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute. "Research Project on Marine Plastics" has started.

To take comprehensive measures against marine plastic debris, which has become an urgent issue, we are promoting research in collaboration with domestic and international researchers and disseminating information.